Connection device for a milking unit

Abstract

A connection device for connection of a milking unit (1) to a milk line (4) comprising a valve housing (9) with a sliding valve (31) and a connection member (8). The connection member (8) is arranged to be releasably connected to the valve housing (9). A guide (44) is provided to positively guide the connection member (8) relative to the valve housing (9) during connection of the connection member (8). A sliding valve (31) is adapted to cover the opening (30) in a closing position and to uncover the opening (30) in an opening position. According to the invention a catching member (43) is arranged during movement of the connection member (8) towards the valve housing (9) to guide the connection member (8) to a position where the connection member (8) engages the valve housing (9) by interaction with the guide (44). Alternatively, a coupling device (47) is provided to connect the connection member (8) to the sliding valve (31) and to release the connection member (8) from the sliding valve (31), respectively, in a predetermined position.

I claim: 
     
       1. A connection device for connection of a milking unit to a milk line in a pipeline milking plant, the milk line having a wall that surrounds a channel and has a hole, and the milking unit having a cavity for extracted milk, comprising: a valve housing having an opening and being adapted to be fastened to the milk line in such a way that the opening communicates with the channel of the milk line via the hole in the wall of the milk line;   a connection member having a through passage and being adapted to be connected to the milkinig unit in such a way that the passage communicates with said cavity of the milking unit, the connection member further being adapted to be releasably connected to the valve housing in such a way that the passage communicates with the opening of the valve housing;   guiding means adapted during a translational movement of the connection member to positively guide the connection member in relation to the valve housing in a predetermined movement path from a first position to a second position, in which latter position the passage of the connection member communicates with the channel of the milk line via the opening of the valve housing and the hole in the wall of the milk line;   a sliding valve which is adapted to cover said opening of the valve housing in a closing position, and to uncover this opening in an opening position, such that it communicates with the passage of the connection member; and   a coupling device adapted, during a positively controlled translational movement of the connection member, when the connection member is in an intermediate position between said first and second positions to connect the connection member to the sliding valve in such a way that the sliding valve is positively connected to the connection member, the coupling device further being adapted to release the connection member from the sliding valve in said intermediate position of the connection member, when the connection member is moved in a direction from said second towards said first position.   
     
     
       2. A connection device according to claim 1, wherein the connection member is shaped such that it seals against the sliding valve at least when the connection member is moved in a direction from said second towards said first position. 
     
     
       3. A connection device according to claim 2, wherein the coupling device comprises at least one coupling member, which in said intermediate position of the connection member is freely movable between a connecting position and a disconnecting position when not actuated, but is adapted, in said connecting position, to be kept substantially immovable relative to the sliding valve and the connection member when the connection member actuates the sliding valve during the movement of the sliding valve between its intermediate position and its said second position. 
     
     
       4. A connection device according to claim 2, including a catching member for guiding the connection member to said first position during movement of the connection member towards the valve housing, such that the connection member gets into engagement with the valve housing by means of said guiding means. 
     
     
       5. A connection device according to claim 2, including a sealing member for sealing the opening of the valve housing against the sliding valve when the sliding valve is in said intermediate position and against the passage of the connection member when the connection member is in said intermediate position and is formed such that it extends in a direction towards said first position at least as far that it seals against the passage when the periphery of the opening is a tangent to the periphery of the passage. 
     
     
       6. A connection device according to claim 1, wherein the coupling device comprises at least one coupling member, which in said intermediate position of the connection member is freely movable between a connecting position and a disconnecting position when not actuated, but is adapted, in said connecting position, to be kept substantially immovable relative to the sliding valve and the connection member, when the connection member actuates the sliding valve during the movement of the sliding valve between its intermediate position and its said second position. 
     
     
       7. A connection device according to claim 6, wherein the valve housing is shaped such that it keeps the coupling member in said connecting position when the connection member is between its intermediate position and said second position. 
     
     
       8. A connection device according to claim 7, wherein the valve housing is placed and mounted such that movement of the connection member in the valve housing is forced to occur substantially in the same direction as the one in which the connection member has been moved up to the catching member. 
     
     
       9. A connection device according to claim 8, including a sealing member for sealing the opening of the valve housing against the sliding valve when the sliding valve is in said intermediate position and against the passage of the connection member when the connection member is in said intermediate position and is formed such that it extends in a direction towards said first position at least as far that it seals against the passage when the periphery of the opening is a tangent to the periphery of the passage. 
     
     
       10. A connection device according to claim 7, including a catching member for guiding the connection member to said first position during movement of the connection member towards the valve housing, such that the connection member gets into engagement with the valve housing by means of said guiding means. 
     
     
       11. A connection device according to claim 7, including a sealing member for sealing the opening of the valve housing against the sliding valve when the sliding valve is in said intermediate position and against the passage of the connection member when the connection member is in said intermediate position and is formed such that it extends in a direction towards said first position at least as far that it seals against the passage when the periphery of the opening is a tangent to the periphery of the passage. 
     
     
       12. A connection device according to claim 3, including a catching member for guiding the connection member to said first position during movement of the connection member towards the valve housing, such that the connection member gets into engagement with the valve housing by means of said guiding means. 
     
     
       13. A connection device according to claim 6, including a sealing member for sealing the opening of the valve housing against the sliding valve when the sliding valve is in said intermediate position and against the passage of the connection member when the connection member is in said intermediate position and is formed such that it extends in a direction towards said first position at least as far that it seals against the passage when the periphery of the opening is a tangent to the periphery of the passage. 
     
     
       14. A connection device according to claim 1, including a catching member for guiding the connection member to said first position during movement of the connection member towards the valve housing, such that the connection member gets into engagement with the valve housing by means of said guiding means. 
     
     
       15. A connection device according to claim 14, wherein the sealing member is, within a predetermined area, provided with a plurality of protrusions forming interspaces for facilitating impression of said predetermined area. 
     
     
       16. A connection device according to claim 14, including a sealing member for sealing the opening of the valve housing against the sliding valve when the sliding valve is in said intermediate position and against the passage of the connection member when the connection member is in said intermediate position and is formed such that it extends in a direction towards said first position at least as far that it seals against the passage when the periphery of the opening is a tangent to the periphery of the passage. 
     
     
       17. A connection device according to claim 1, wherein a sealing member is provided to seal the opening of the valve housing against the sliding valve when the sliding valve is in said intermediate position and against the passage of the connection member when the connection member is in said intermediate position and is formed such that it extends in a direction towards said first position at least as far that it seals against the passage when the periphery of the opening is a tangent to the periphery of the passage.